My name is Thomas Dawson and I am running for the first time for the N.H. House of Representatives. You might ask "but why?" Maybe this letter will give an explanation. I have included bits of my background and my beliefs.

The past six years have been a combative and ugly period in our political history from the highest level of federal government all the way down to our local municipalities. Good, common sense, honest people are needed in our governments to get us back to a more practical and mature form of governing. I feel I can contribute to that climate.

I've been married 46 years and have two adult children, both born in Laconia. The Lakes Region is a wonderful place to live, raise a family, and retire. My past career and community experiences have contributed to qualifications that I would bring with me in representing the citizens of Laconia in the N.H. House of Representatives.

I have been elected to the Laconia School Board three times (nine years from 1984 to 1992).

As the State Fire Marshal of New Hampshire -— a Governor and Council appointment — I worked within the Statehouse and with all the cities and towns in the state. I also wrote, in 1984, the first State Fire Code in the state.

I was the Assistant to the Fire Chief of the Houston, Texas, Fire Department, the second-largest fire department in the fourth largest U.S. city. In this position, I acted as the department's chief financial officer, managing a staff of eight accountants. I built and administered a budget of over $130 million in a fire department of over 3,000 men and 75 fire stations (1980). As the department liaison, I communicated extensively with treasury, controllers office, purchasing department, and other city departments.

For seven years I was a full-time fire protection consultant operating in Northern New England. I successfully ran this business as a sole proprietorship until I began teaching in the Fire Protection Technology program at the Lakes Region Community College, a program that I had started in the early 1970s. I continued consulting part-time and ended my professional career as a community college professor upon retiring in 2002.

Since retirement, I have become extremely active in the early steam automobile community worldwide resulting in the publication of my book, "Stanley Steamer Tales." Currently, I am the American representative in the Steam Car Club of Great Britain.

The people of Laconia need state representatives who truly represent them. Every decision, every bill, and every vote in the House needs to be evaluated for what is best for Laconians and the citizens of the state of New Hampshire. Extreme ideologies must be countered with truthful, common sense, carefully-thought-out actions. I will support the citizens of Laconia and the working families of this great state.